The Production of Cellulase from Bacillus sp. BPPTCC-RK2 using OPEFB Substrate

Abstract

Cellulase enzyme is widely used in bioethanol industry. In bioethanol production, cellulase is used to hydrolyze lignocellulosic materials into glucose, where glucose is further converted into bioethanol through fermentation process. The demand of cellulase in Indonesia is quite high, however almost 99% of Indonesia industrial enzyme demands is fulfilled by imports. This situation might trigger a new opportunity to build local cellulase enzyme plant in Indonesia. One of the lignocellulosic biomass which has high potential as a substrate to produce cellulase enzyme is Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB) because it has pretty high cellulose content, which reaches up to 41,3 – 46,5%. The conventional method to for cellulase enzyme production is by utilizing lignocellulosic fungi, but it is known that cellulase also can be produced by bacteria with higher production rate. Several variables that affect enzyme activity are pH and temperature. Therefore, this research will examine how is the activity of cellulase enzyme produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BPPTCC-RK 2 recombinant by varying temperature and pH. The method that is used in this observation is submerged fermentation (SMF). The measurement of cellulase activity is conducted by using DNS method, while the protein content is measured by using Lowry method. It has been shown that the highest activity of cellulase is at 24 hours. The optimum pH and temperature are 7,0 and 400C respectively. The Km and Vmax value are 0,11% and 2,907 U/mL respectively

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Keywords

Cellulase, OPEFB, Bacillus sp. BPPTCC-RK2, lignocellulosic

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